Multitasking on an Android tablet could get a lot easier with Android 12: Report

The latest Android 12 Developer Preview has added a “taskbar” to the system interface, which allows you to quickly switch between any apps you may have open.

Devices like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 can already access this feature, but it could benefit offerings from other manufacturers.  (Samsung)

Android tablets have lagged behind their counterparts on the Apple side of the fence for years now, in terms of hardware as well as software support - in terms of app optimisation for larger screens. Even multitasking on these devices feels rather clunky when compared to Microsoft's hybrid tablets, so it makes sense that Google is finally attempting to improve the software experience for its tablet use.

According to a report by Android Police, Google has been working on a better way to multitask while you are using a large screen, according to Mishaal Rahman on Twitter. The Android maker has added a hidden “taskbar” to the system interface, which allows you to quickly switch between any apps you may have open, making it easier to keep track of how many apps are running and quickly move to an app without sweeping through the recent apps screen.

Here's a screen recording pic.twitter.com/jqBSwY7lA9

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) March 17, 2021

 If the feature, which has shown up on the latest Developer Preview of Android 12 (that began rolling out to testers and developers yesterday) looks familiar, its because it looks very similar to the taskbar that was been reworked by Microsoft for its upcoming Windows 10X release, which will also center the apps on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. The taskbar on the latest developer preview is persistent, which means it works in a similar manner as its Windows counterpart.

However, as with all software that is currently in testing, the feature itself needs to be enabled and as Rahman points out, only appears on tablet - so if you thought of using it on your 6.7-inch smartphone screen, you're out of luck. Since this is an experimental feature, it could either be removed or scrapped completely if the company decides to do away with it before the final release. It does, however, look like it could make multitasking a lot easier, especially for Android tablets with larger screens.